CUC failed to complete monitoring, testing
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. did not complete in 2007 all monitoring or testing for contaminants in the water drinking system in the CNMI.
According to CUC’s July 2008 water quality report, during 2007 the utility agency failed to complete all monitoring or testing for cryptosporidium, synthetic organic chemicals, and volatile organic contaminants.
CUC is required under federal law to monitor drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis.
Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not drinking water meets health standards.
The report cited that, on Saipan as a public water system serving a population of 50,000 to 90,000, CUC failed to begin the initial round of 24 consecutive months of monitoring for cryptosporidium beginning April 2007.
Cryptosporidium is a microbial pathogen found in surface water throughout the United States.
For the first time since 2004, CUC, tested the Saipan water system entry points in November and December 2007 for synthetic organic chemicals, volatile organic contaminants, radionuclides, metals, herbicides, and pesticides. The tests incurred a cost of over $75,000.
With respect to synthetic organic chemicals, CUC said they failed to monitor for such contaminants on Rota and Tinian last year. CUC said it also failed to monitor for volatile organic contaminants on both islands.
The report said system-wide improvements were not fully achieved in 2007 due to budget increases and that operation improvements in the water division were slow in coming and these resulted in violations.
Due to budgetary and staffing constraints, the report said, not all test requirements were also completed last year.
In some cases, the report added, tests were conducted and results exceeded the maximum contaminant levels allowed by the Division of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
CUC Saipan’s Water Division reportedly spends $5.9 million annually for water quality supplies. Another $126,000 is spent every year for chlorine supplies to treat water.
CUC’s Water Quality Laboratory operates on an annual budget of $584,000, according to the water quality report.
